id Software's creative director Hugo Martin is pushing back hard against claims that the Doom developer has been crippled by recent layoffs, insisting the studio remains capable and staffed at levels comparable to when it shipped the acclaimed 2016 reboot.
Last week, a WARN notice filed in Texas confirmed that id Software lost 96 workers from its Richardson headquarters, plus another 40 remote positions. The cuts represented roughly half the studio's workforce and came as part of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's broader restructuring, which eliminated 1,600 roles initially with another 1,600 expected before the fiscal year ends.
During a livestream playthrough of Doom: The Dark Ages DLC, Martin directly addressed the fallout. "There's been reports that we've been 'nerfed into the ground' and 'gutted' and we have 50 people, and that's not true," he said. "We're the size we were when we made Doom 2016, and id Tech is very much alive and well."
The studio issued an earlier statement drawing the same parallel, claiming current staffing levels matched those of the 2016 game and reaffirming its ability to produce quality titles. It also addressed specific concerns about id Tech, the proprietary engine used by id Software and sibling studio MachineGames.
Xbox had pushed back against reporting that only one person remained working on id Tech in Texas, confirming to IGN that "there are dozens of people working on id Tech across multiple locations." Martin elaborated on that point during the stream, noting the engine team spans both Frankfurt and MachineGames locations, with regular collaboration between sites.
Martin also offered an update on Doom: The Dark Ages, the prequel that launched recently. "The fact that we made a game that people like and is critical and commercially successful like I said, it's doing very well related to the forecast and stuff," he said. He suggested the game's performance would benefit both remaining staff and those who had been let go, framing success as a collective win.
The layoffs have sparked visible protest. Dozens of workers gathered outside id Software's Richardson office Wednesday for a "Save our Devs" rally, part of a broader action organized across multiple U.S. cities and Canada by the Communications Workers of America union. The CWA is currently negotiating exit agreements with Microsoft on behalf of affected employees.
The studio's co-founders have weighed in with differing tones. John Romero offered support to laid-off staff and called for preservation of the studio's legacy, noting that carrying forward the Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein names demands particular care and respect. John Carmack, however, expressed sadness without anger, questioning whether recent game sales had been sufficient to prevent the cuts.
Before the layoffs, id Software had been developing several projects in early stages, including an original IP pitched as John Wick-style action, a new Perfect Dark entry, and a multiplayer or co-op focused Doom game. Current reporting suggests the studio is now working on a new mainline Doom title, though official announcements remain forthcoming.
Author Emily Chen: "Martin's defense rings partly credible on the staffing question, but the real test is what actually ships next, and when."
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